People must vote with an all India perspective: Cong

The party said it is all very well to think of limited issues "but this time around the entire nation must vote on an all India perspective".

In yet another rebuff to regional parties, Congress has said the entire nation must vote with an "all India perspective" in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"When the people go to vote this time they have to reflect whether they can risk the country at the hands of less experienced (people) that have let us down on earlier occasions", the party said in the latest issue of its mouthpiece 'Sandesh'.

The party said it is all very well to think of limited issues "but this time around the entire nation must vote on an all India perspective".

In an editorial, the moutpiece said that the general elections in a democracy are a test of the true strength of a political party.

"Essentially it should reflect the acceptance of the policies enunciated by the party but in our country, issues of regionalism, communalism, caste and other emotive issues often sway the electorate," it noted.

The comments in the Congress journal are significant as they came close on the heels of the party chief Sonia Gandhi's statement that the nation needs a national party like Congress.